A tiny, mini propeller plane was parked in a corner of the airport. After waiting for 2 hours, the boarding gate opened, and I walked to the plane. The pilot waved for me to sit next to him, but my companions stopped me from getting on. We took our seats in the second-to-last row; the plane had only 10 seats total. The windows didn’t close properly, and after takeoff, the wind howled. The pilot, co-pilot, and passengers in the back were chatting and laughing, making it feel like a ride in a rural van. Below us was the ocean, and everyone was calm, so I relaxed too. After all, everyone has their fate; nothing to worry about.
We arrived at Los Roques, a stunning natural island surrounded by the ocean. The entire island feels like one quaint village, with only a handful of residents. With our small luggage in hand, we made our way to our hotel, V1VA NATURE, ready to settle in and explore this idyllic paradise.
This is the best hotel on the island, with a style reminiscent of the village of Oia on Santorini, Greece. The rooms are small lofts, with beds both upstairs and downstairs, housed in charming white buildings that add character to the stay.
In the afternoon, we packed a cooler stocked with drinks and snacks and put on our swimsuits. The hotel’s speedboat took us to a nearby small island. There were no buildings on the island, only two simple shelters. Guests vacationing on the smaller islands receive a box of food and drinks, a beach umbrella, and two lounge chairs from their hotel on the main island.
The routine was simple: swimming, sunbathing, listening to music, and relaxing. At the agreed time, the speedboat would return to take us back to the main island, bringing back everything, including any trash.
The island was tiny, with lush vegetation and crystal-clear water in a soft, light green hue. Not far from the shore, a yacht floated peacefully, completing the picturesque scene.
Under the shade of the umbrella, we enjoyed our lunch. The meal box included two bottles of beer, two bottles of Pepsi, two bottles of water, and a serving of Italian pasta—plenty for a day’s worth of food and drink. After lunch, we took a leisurely walk around the small island, searching for photo opportunities. We captured scenes of the sea, people, clouds, and plants.
The guests on the island came from all over, including the U.S., Czech Republic, Caracas, China, South Korea, and local visitors.
In the evening, we returned to the hotel, changed clothes, and headed to the open-air rooftop restaurant on the second floor. The terrace overlooked the island’s small harbor. As the sun set, speedboats returned from the various islands, one by one. Camera in hand, I captured the beauty of the harbor at sunset, feeling entirely at ease and savoring the moment.
The evening breeze on the terrace was strong during dinner, but it added to the atmosphere. With only a few guests around, the ambiance was peaceful, allowing us to quietly enjoy the meal and the serene surroundings.
Today, we set out for a more remote island, even more untouched—without a single building in sight. The only shelter was provided by the beach umbrella the hotel brought along, creating a small oasis in the open wilderness. The beach loungers were arranged in smooth curves along the shore, accompanied by our picnic box, offering a truly authentic, nature-filled experience.
On one corner of the beach, we encountered a woman from the Czech Republic, leisurely reading a book and writing in her journal. With no tall trees to provide shade, she relied entirely on her umbrella for relief from the sun. The simplicity and solitude of the setting made it a perfect spot to unwind, surrounded by nothing but the sea, sand, and sky.
We found out that a seaside wedding would take place at the small beach bar tonight, so we arrived early to capture the moment. As the sun began to set, the bride and groom returned from the distance aboard a speedboat. Two children held the bride’s flowing white gown as they made their way to the bar on the shore.
A few small round tables had been set with white tablecloths and lit candles, creating an intimate and romantic atmosphere. The priest, along with the couple’s parents and close friends, were already waiting, ready for the ceremony to begin. The priest commenced the wedding rituals as the golden light of the sunset bathed the scene, adding to the beauty of this special moment by the sea.
The local wedding was simple, yet warm and romantic. The priest, bride, and groom exchanged words in Spanish, which we couldn’t understand, though we guessed they were heartfelt blessings. The bride, holding her father’s arm, shed tears of happiness.
Friends and family gathered around, offering their blessings to the newlyweds in unison. One of the bridesmaids was exceptionally beautiful—a testament to Venezuela’s reputation for stunning women. I couldn’t resist capturing several photos of her and exchanged emails so I could send the pictures to her later.
After the modest ceremony, a casual cocktail reception followed, perfectly matching the intimate and relaxed atmosphere of the evening.
We are heading back to Caracas at noon today. Early in the morning, we climbed a small hill, the highest point on the island, to capture the sunrise and take panoramic photos of the village. The hilltop was covered with wild grass, swaying in the strong breeze. The scenery was breathtaking—sunlight gradually illuminating the village below, with the vast ocean stretching endlessly beyond. It was the perfect way to bid farewell to this peaceful island paradise.
After capturing the panoramic views, we returned to the hotel for breakfast. We then strolled through the village, taking photos of the locals and enjoying the island’s relaxed charm. Back in the room, we packed our belongings and, after a light lunch, headed to the airport.
At the airport, we paid the departure tax and waited for our flight to land. The Los Roques airport, named one of the “World’s 16 Most Beautiful and Enchanting Paradise Islands,” felt more like a seaside playground—no terminal, no waiting lounge, and not even any benches. We simply sat outside a nearby shop, keeping an eye on the sky for our plane’s descent. When we saw it approaching, we walked over to the queue.
After this experience, boarding the 10-seater plane felt like second nature—no nerves, just excitement for the next adventure.
